Avocado tree named ‘Llanos Hass’

ABSTRACT

Described is a new Avocado variety whose fruit matures at a minimum of approximately 4 to 6 weeks earlier than the variety ‘HASS’.

LATIN NAME OF GENUS AND SPECIES

The present invention relates to a new Persea americana plant.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Avocado plants in cultivation are mainly varieties of Persea americana.The new variety was developed by open pollination followed by seedlingselection: an open pollinated seedling was selected at applicant'sproperty in Kwinana, Hope Valley, Western Australia. which displayedprecocious and consistent fruit, and which was an improvement to thevariety ‘HASS’ inasmuch as it consistently matured earlier than ‘HASS’.DNA profiling has shown that ‘HASS’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 139, nowexpired) is likely to be one of the parents of the new variety.Propagation by vegetative grafting onto rootstocks in Kwinana, HopeValley, Western Australia has demonstrated that the characteristics ofthe new variety are transmitted through succeeding generations ofasexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a new and distinctive Avocado plant havingprecocious and consistent fruit set similar to that of its parentvariety, ‘HASS’, but which matures consistently approximately 4 to 6weeks earlier than that of its parent variety ‘HASS’.

The new variety was asexually reproduced by vegetative grafting ontoGuatemalan Avocado, Reed variety (not patented), seedling rootstocks andthen advantageously planted in soil consisting of deep sands.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION(S)

The accompanying photographic illustrations show typical specimens ofthe vegetative growth and flowers of the new variety in different stagesof development and depicted in color as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in a color illustration of this character.

FIG. 1 shows a typical fruit and leaf of the new variety.

FIG. 2 shows a 4-year old tree of the new variety.

FIG. 3 shows the flowers and buds of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The new variety ‘LLANOS HASS’ is vigorous, upright with a medium tolarge height. Anthocyanin is not present in the stems of young shoots.The leaflets are large, horizontal, long and narrow with blades foldingconcave with a lanceolate shape. The tips of the leaflets are acute andanthocyanin is present in newly emerged leaves. The followingdescription is of 2 to 5 year-old plants grown in Kwinana, Hope Valley,Western Australia with color descriptions in accordance with The ColorChart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London (3^(rd) ed. 1995). Theplants described were grafted in 1996 onto rootstock as previouslydescribed.

All dimensions are in millimeters, weights in grams (unless otherwisestated).

COMPARATIVE TRIAL

Comparison variety: ‘HASS’.

Location: Kwinana, Hope Valley, Western Australia (Zone 50)approximately 30 Km south of Perth.

Condition: Scion wood from the original ‘LLANOS HASS’ seedling tree wasgrafted onto Guatemalan seedling rootstocks, trees were planted in 1996at spacings of 5.0 m ×2.5 m to a total of 100 trees. ‘HASS’ treesgrafted onto Guatemalan seedling rootstocks were planted randomly withinthe ‘LLANOS HASS’ block in 1997 to a total of 10 trees. The plants weregrown in the field, soil being deep sands; all trees were managed in thesame manner with regard to irrigation and nutrition. Irrigation usingmini sprinklers aimed to wet 100% of soil in the drip zone. Nutritionrequirements were based on annual leaf analysis and applied byfertigation.

Trial design: The trial set up was of a completely randomized design.

Measurements: Samples were randomly collected from trees selected atrandom for analysis.

LLANOS HASS CHARACTERISTICS

Plant: Habit vigorous, upright.

Height.—About 3 meters (3 year-old tree).

Spread.—About 2 meters.

Trunk diameter: About 50 mm at 1 meter high.

Bark color: Green, near 139B. Texture: Smooth.

Branch size: At 1 meter: about 1600 mm long:30 mm diameter at sight oftrunk.

Stem: Anthocyanin not present in young shoots.

Leaf: Large size (183 mm×71 mm), shape lanceolate (length/width ratioabout 2.6).

Attitude.—Horizontal, blade folding concave.

Length.—Long; about 17 cm to about 20 cm.

Width.—Narrow; about 5.5 cm to about 6.5 cm.

Tip.—Acute, anthocyanin present in newly emerged leaves, anise aroma notpresent when crushed.

Shape of leaf base.—Obtuse.

Margin.—Smooth and uniform.

Texture.—Smooth.

Color.—Top, green, near 137B; underside, yellow-green, near 146C.

Venation.—Pinnate.

Vein color.—Yellow-green, near 145A.

Petiole.—Average length is 42 mm; diameter, 3 to 4 mm; color,yellow-green, near 145A.

Inflorescence:

Flower.—Type ‘B’;¹ habit late.

Bud.—Color, yellow, near 13B; length, about 8 mm; diameter, about 4 mm;shape, rounded base, acute tip.

Petal.—Color is yellow, near 9B; length, about 6 mm; width, about 2 mm;margin, smooth and uniform; texture, smooth; number of petal, 6; shape,apex acute, base flattened.

Reproductive organs.—Short, about 6 to 10 cm, tightly packed flowerstalks (peduncles) and giving the appearance of higher density offlowers as compared to ‘HASS’; color yellow, near 9B.

Flower pedicel.—Length, about 4 to 5 mm; diameter, about 2 mm; coloryellow-green, near 145B.

Mature fruit: Early maturing, size small (97 mm×64 mm); shape pyriform;base rounded, stylar region slightly depressed; length: diameter ratio(1.5:1), stalk cavity present, relief of surface rough.

Pedicel.—Average length, about 20 mm; average diameter, about 9 mm.

Peduncle.—Average length, about 80 mm; average diameter, about 6 mm;shape, cylindrical, nailhead.

Ripe fruit²: Color of skin purple black, thickness of skin thick (1.75mm), texture of skin leathery, adherence of skin to flesh medium, peelseasily with no cracking unless over-mature; main flesh color yellow,wide green layer of flesh next to skin, fibers in flesh inconspicuous,flesh texture smooth, seed set into cavity tight.

Seed: Seed: size compared to fruit large (flesh weight:seed weight ratio3.7:1), shape in longitudinal section base flattened, ovate, apexconical. Weight, about 37 g; length, about 45 mm; diameter, about 40 mm.Color light brown, near 165A.

Fruit weight: Characteristic and observed fruit weight: average of 207 g(SD 27); however, fruit size depended on the crop load on young trees.

Pollination requirements: The ‘ILLANOS HASS’ variety has displayed theability to be self-fertile. Known pollinators that stimulate the bestfruit set are those of the “A” type pollinator variety.¹ No knownpollinators are incompatible with the ‘LLANOS HASS’ variety.

Productivity: One hundred trees were tested, spaced 5.0 m×2.5 m; fruitpicked averaged 32 kg per tree at age 3 years.

Market use: Market use of fruit of observed plant: Avocados are washed,polished sized & packed in cardboard stackable boxes and transported tomarkets or can be bulk packed in crates and sent to packing houses fordistribution to wholesalers/markets. Avocados can be refrigerated andcan also be artificially ripened by gassing. Natural ripening takesbetween 6-10 days after picking. The rough, thick skin is a goodprotection for the flesh when being handled, either by picking, packingor transporting. Many people use avocado in place of butter as it has nocholesterol and full of the oils that are good for one's health.Avocados are recommended by the Heart Foundation. They are also used infresh salads, dips, sauces and with seafood and meat dishes. Avocado isnot used cooked as it becomes bitter when heated.

Plant/fruit disease resistance/susceptibility:

Plant diseases.—Most avocado plants are susceptible to Phytophthora(root rot). However in the past 7 years there has not been any evidenceof the variety LLANOS HASS being attacked by this disease. Gooddrainage, canopy management and use of good rootstock is paramount inkeeping this disease at a minimum. Some growers spray or injectchemicals such as phosphonate, into the trunk. No chemicals have beenused during the 7 years cultivating this new variety other thanfertilizers through a fertigation system.

Fruit diseases.—Susceptible to Anthracnose and certain pests such asfruit fly and scale. Safe foliar sprays are effective for pests. Fruitcan be dipped or sprayed with specific, legal chemical for anthracnose.

Winter hardines and drought/heat tolerance: Both Plant and Fruit canwithstand light frosts (3-5 degrees C.) during winter. During hotsummers (as high as 38 degrees C.), as long as the plant gets adequatewater usually twice per day, it will survive, however the fruit requireadequate foliage to protect them from burning.

First/last picks: Characteristics and observed date of first and lastpick in the specified location of culture: In Western Australia the dateof first pick is the 1st week in May and last pick can be left as lateas end of July. Fruit seem to start turning purple-black on the treeduring this last month. Dry matter percentages increase the longer thefruit is left on the tree. Acceptable percentages vary from country tocountry, but in Australia the minimum is 21%.

¹Type A and Type B relates to the floral behavior classification. A typevarieties first open during the morning when their stigmas are receptive(female stage), then close about noon. The flowers remain closed untilnoon of the following day, then re-open and release their pollen (malestage). B type varieties open first in their female receptive stage inthe afternoon, closing overnight, and re-opening the following morning,when their pollen is released.

²Mature fruit is defined as fruit that has attained a specificpercentage of dry matter/oil content and is ready to harvest from thetree. Ripe fruit is defined as fruit that is mature and is soft andready to eat after being picked off the tree. Avocados ripen after beingpicked from the tree.

COMPARISON OF PERSEA VARIETIES ‘LLANOS HASS’ ‘HAAS’ YOUNG SHOOT Colorgreen green Anthocyanin coloration absent absent Color of lenticels redgreen Size of lenticels about 1 to 2 mm about 1 to 2 mm in length and inlength and about 1 mm in about 1 mm in width width YOUNG LEAF:Anthocyanin coloration present present Color of petiole white whitepubescence LEAF: Attitude horizontal horizontal Blade/folding concaveconcave Blade size large large Blade Length (mm) Mean 183 165 Std.Deviation 21 25 LSD/sig 9 pS0.01 Blade Width (mm) Mean 71 76 Std.Deviation 10 9 LSD/sig 4 pS0.01 Blade Length/Width Ratio Mean 2.6 2.2Std. Deviation 0.3 0.4 LSD/sig 0.1 PS0.01 Blade shape lanceolateelliptical Blade - shape of tip acute acute Blade undulation of weakweak margin Blade anise aroma absent absent Inflorescence: Length ofAxis medium long Color of Lenticels green green Flowering type Type BType A Flower: Pubescence of sepal present present Reproductive Organsshort, about 6 long, about 12 to 10 cm, to 14 cm; color tightly packedyellow, near 9B flower stalks (peduncles) compared to ‘HASS’; appears tohave a higher density of flowers than ‘HASS’; color yellow, near 9BMature fruit: Size small small Length (mm) Mean 97 100 Std. Deviation 1011 LSD/sig 7.0 ns Diameter (widest point - mm) Mean 64 66 Std. Deviation6 7 LSD/sig 4.0 ns Length/Diameter ratio Mean 1.5 1.5 Std. Deviation 0.10.1 LSD/sig 0.1 ns Shape of basal part of rounded rounded fruit Stalkcavity present present shape of sytlar region slightly slightlydepressed depressed Relief of surface rough rough Pedicel: Length mediummedium Shape cylindrical cylindrical “Nailhead” Shape present presentcolor green yellow/green Pedicel Length Mean 81 123 Std. Deviation 15 33LSD/sig 13.8 PS0.01 Ripe fruit: Color of skin purple black purple blackThickness of skin (mm) thick thick Mean 1.75 1.42 Std. Deviation 0.160.22 LSD/sig 0.20 pS0.01 Texture of skin leathery corky Adherence ofskin to medium medium flesh Main color of flesh yellow yellow Color offlesh next to green, near green skin 143A Width of colored layer wide,near 5 mm medium of flesh next to skin Texture of flesh smooth smoothFirmness of flesh medium medium Anise aroma of flesh absent absentSetting of seed in tight tight cavity Seed size compared to large mediumfruit size Flesh: seed to weight ratio Mean 3.7 4.8 Std. Deviation 0.61.0 LSD/sig 0.5 PS0.01 Seed: shape in longitudal base flattened, ovatesection apex conical Weight: 37 g 29 g Length: 45 mm 47 mm Diameter: 40mm 33 mm Color: light brown, same near 165A Time of flowering: late lateTime of fruit maturity for early late harvesting:

We claim:
 1. A new Avocado plant of the variety substantially as shownand described.